Chicago @ Pittsburgh Picks & Props

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Bryan Reynolds in the 92nd percentile as it relates to his overall offensive talent. Bryan Reynolds is projected to hit 2nd in the batting order in today's game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs. Home field advantage typically improves batter metrics in all categories, and Bryan Reynolds will hold that advantage in today's matchup.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. By putting up a .268 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) using Statcast data) since the start of last season , Yan Gomes finds himself in the 75th percentile. When it comes to hitting balls between 23° and 34° (the launch angle range that tends to optimize home runs), Yan Gomes and his 17.7% rank in the 78th percentile since the start of last season. Placing in the 100th percentile of THE BAT X's Spray Score since the start of last season, Yan Gomes demonstrated exceptional skill in hitting the ball to all fields - a key ability for achieving a high batting average.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Michael Busch will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Paul Skenes today. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Michael Busch's 94.5-mph exit velocity on flyballs (an advanced standard to study power) is in the 80th percentile since the start of last season. Michael Busch and his 22° launch angle on his hardest-contacted balls rank in 93rd percentile, among the highest in the league since the start of last season.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Ian Happ in the 79th percentile when estimating his overall offensive skill. Ian Happ is penciled in 5th on the lineup card today. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The switch-hitting Ian Happ will hold the platoon advantage while batting from from his good side (0) today against Paul Skenes. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Cody Bellinger in the 87th percentile when estimating his overall offensive talent. Cody Bellinger is projected to bat 3rd in the lineup in today's game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Cody Bellinger will hold the platoon advantage against Paul Skenes in today's game. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Jared Triolo in the 97th percentile when assessing his BABIP talent. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Jared Triolo will hold the platoon advantage over Justin Steele in today's matchup. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs. Jared Triolo will benefit from the home field advantage today, which ought to bolster all of his stats.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Edward Olivares in the 82nd percentile when assessing his batting average talent. Edward Olivares is projected to bat 5th in the batting order in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Edward Olivares will hold the platoon advantage against Justin Steele in today's matchup. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Michael A. Taylor will hold the platoon advantage against Justin Steele in today's game. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs. Home field advantage typically boosts batter metrics across the board, and Michael A. Taylor will hold that advantage today. As it relates to his wOBA and overall offense, Michael A. Taylor has suffered from bad luck this year. His .239 figure falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected wOBA (xwOBA) at .253.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Nick Madrigal in the 95th percentile when it comes to his batting average ability. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. When it comes to his batting average, Nick Madrigal has had some very poor luck since the start of last season. His .255 mark falls considerably below the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Statcast-based Expected Batting Average (xBA) at .289.

Mike Tauchman has primarily hit in the back-half of the batting order this season (52% of the time), but he is projected to hit 1st in the lineup today. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Mike Tauchman will hold the platoon advantage over Paul Skenes in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Sporting a 1.46 K/BB rate since the start of last season, Mike Tauchman has shown good plate discipline, grading out in the 93rd percentile.

When estimating his batting average talent, Nico Hoerner is projected as the 20th-best hitter in the league by the leading projection system (THE BAT X). PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Posting a .285 Expected Batting Average (an advanced metric created by the leading projection system (THE BAT X) utilizing Statcast data) since the start of last season , Nico Hoerner is ranked in the 87th percentile. Posting a 1.21 K/BB rate this year, Nico Hoerner has shown impressive plate discipline, grading out in the 96th percentile.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Oneil Cruz in the 84th percentile as it relates to his BABIP skill. Oneil Cruz is penciled in 4th on the lineup card in this game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The Chicago Cubs have just 1 same-handed RP in their bullpen, so Oneil Cruz stands a good chance of never facing a bullpen mismatch all game. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Christopher Morel in the 85th percentile as it relates to his overall offensive talent. Christopher Morel is penciled in 4th on the lineup card in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Christopher Morel has experienced some negative variance in regards to his batting average this year; his .217 figure is quite a bit lower than his .277 Expected Batting Average, based on the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s interpretation of Statcast data.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Joey Bart will have the handedness advantage against Justin Steele today. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs. Joey Bart will hold the home field advantage today, which figures to boost all of his stats. Joey Bart has done a good job optimizing his launch angle on his hardest-hit balls. His 17.7° figure is among the highest in MLB since the start of last season (83rd percentile).

The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects Andrew McCutchen in the 77th percentile as it relates to his overall offensive ability. Andrew McCutchen is projected to hit 1st in the batting order in this game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Andrew McCutchen will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.

As it relates to his overall offensive ability, Seiya Suzuki ranks in the 95th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Seiya Suzuki is penciled in 2nd in the batting order in this game. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Utilizing Statcast data, Seiya Suzuki grades out in the 92nd percentile for offensive ability according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (xwOBA) since the start of last season at .365.

Ke'Bryan Hayes's batting average ability is projected to be in the 86th percentile according to the leading projection system (THE BAT X). Ke'Bryan Hayes is projected to hit 3rd on the lineup card in this matchup. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Ke'Bryan Hayes will have the upper hand in today's matchup. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Miles Mastrobuoni will receive the benefit of the platoon advantage against Paul Skenes in today's matchup. The Pittsburgh Pirates infield defense profiles as the 2nd-worst among every team in action today. Based on Statcast data, the leading projection system (THE BAT X)'s version of Expected wOBA (.316) implies that Miles Mastrobuoni has suffered from bad luck since the start of last season with his .255 actual wOBA.

As it relates to his overall offensive skill, Connor Joe ranks in the 75th percentile according to the leading projections (THE BAT X). Connor Joe is penciled in 3rd on the lineup card today. PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. Batting from the opposite that Justin Steele throws from, Connor Joe will have an advantage in today's game. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.

PNC Park sits at the 6th-highest altitude among all stadiums. High elevation tends to lead to more offense. The switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal will get to bat from his strong side (0) today against Justin Steele. Out of all the teams playing today, the 5th-weakest outfield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs. Home field advantage generally bolsters hitter metrics in all categories, and Yasmani Grandal will hold that advantage in today's matchup.